Revamping your home isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do, and it can be even harder when you first have to convince your spouse to get on board. It’s not like you can just surprise them with new furniture in the living room or a new paint color on the bedroom walls if you haven’t talked about these things together at all.
Not to mention bigger projects, like installing new exterior doors or buying energy efficient appliances, definitely requires some communication between you two.
If you know it’s time to take on some of these things but you’re having trouble convincing your spouse, keep reading. The following is a simple 3-step process to get your husband/wife from saying “absolutely not” to “let’s do it.“
1. Share the Why
Replacing the external doors can sound a little ambitious to your partner if you’re always thinking of new ways to redecorate and other home projects to work on. But, if you share the reason why new doors are necessary, your spouse is more likely to see your side of things.
Talk to him/her about the practical reasons for getting new doors. Don’t worry, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss the aesthetics once you’re picking out the new doors together. But the facts are what make your spouse come around and decide to replace the old doors in the first place.
Here are a few of the biggest reasons why homeowners upgrade their entry doors.
Extreme Wear and Tear
Does your front door have scratches all over it? Is the paint chipping? A bit of damage here and there isn’t worth worrying about too much. But, it’s worth it to replace a door with extreme wear and tear with a new custom front door.
Think beyond the visuals for a second. As unpleasant as it may be to look at a door that’s not in its best condition, it’s more dangerous to keep relying on it. Doors with extreme wear and tear can’t work as well as brand-new and well-kept doors.
Letting your old front door or side door stay that way compromises how well it functions. Your door can start to let out airflow and consequently spike up your energy bill. Or, it may even create large enough cracks for small critters to get inside the house.
Signs of Moisture Damage
Another thing that may get inside the house thanks to a faulty front door is moisture. This is how mold starts to grow and serious health risks begin to affect your whole family.
Thankfully, all you have to do to prevent this is understand the signs of moisture damage on a door and act quickly. Even if it wasn’t in you or your spouse’s plans to do any more home upgrades anytime soon, this is one thing you can’t ignore when water starts seeping in.
Problems Opening and Closing Correctly
The final reason it’s worth investing in a new exterior door is if it gives you problems when going in and out. You should never have to leave the house wondering if the screen door in the back shut all the way, or struggling to just get out the front door.
Your exterior doors should be easy to use and also easy to trust. They need to open simply and close securely in order to give everyone in the home peace of mind.
2. Discuss the Reasons This Isn’t a Project to DIY
Maybe you’ve convinced your spouse to replace the entry doors, but only if you work together and do the whole project yourselves.
If this is the case, you still have some things to talk about. It’s much better to hire professional contractors to do the job. These are experts in door replacement and installation, and they can help you create the best possible outcome.
Not to mention, the “savings” available through DIY aren’t always what they seem.
Most homeowners make the argument to DIY their projects because they want to save money. But, they don’t factor in how much their time is worth.
You’re bound to spend a significantly longer amount of time and effort replacing your door through DIY than hiring professionals. Is it worth wasting your whole weekend just to save a bit of money? More importantly, are you sure you wouldn’t have to replace your new door much sooner by installing it yourself?
When the professionals handle the job, they get it right. They will fit and secure your door for it to last as long as it possibly can. You can’t guarantee this when you try to take care of it.
3. Consider Using This as an Opportunity to Remodel
For the tougher spouses who need a little more convincing, consider this: replacing the exterior doors could be a great opportunity to do other home projects together.
If you already have the contractors coming over on Saturday to work on the doors around your home, you may as well spend the afternoon cleaning up the yard and upgrading the landscape a bit. Or, this could be a chance to get painters or power washers to work on the outside of the home, too.
Either way, you’re able to combine multiple efforts to get one amazing result. The decision to invest in new exterior doors could lead to a much bigger, yet more valuable, home improvement project.
How to Convince Your Spouse to Invest in New Exterior Doors: Meet in the Middle
Keep in mind that part of being in a marriage and sharing a home with someone is knowing how to compromise. Maybe the best way to convince your spouse to get new exterior doors is for you to finally budge on something they’ve been wanting to do, too.
This won’t always solve all of your home improvement problems. But, compromising usually does help you two make progress in most types of decision-making you have to do together.
For more tips and tricks when it comes to improving your home, click here.
